What It Requires

WWW Browser Setup

In general, EarTestonline requires your WWW browser to have support for JavaScript and for embedded midi objects.

In particular, I have tested EarTest with these setups:

Internet Explorer 6 for WinXP with standard installation. Works well (must use BGSound; BGSound is now the default)

Opera version 5--doesn't work (not surprising, as Opera's main fault is Javascript incompatibilities)

Netscape 3.0 for Win95, with Netscape's built in audio plug-in LiveAudio (npaudio.dll). Works well.

Netscape 3.0 for Win95, with the Crescendo plug-in. Works with one
exception (can't change MIDI instrument).

Internet Explorer 3.0x for Win95, with Crescendo plug-in. Works with one
exception (can't change MIDI instrument).

The further your setup diverges from the above, the less likely it is to work well.
MIDI over the web ought to be a straightforward proposition, but apparently there
are still a lot of bugs to be ironed out. Javascript has a few bugs, as well.

Computer MIDI Setup

In addition, your computer must have the capability to play midi files, usually in one of these ways:

through a dedicated midi card and synthesizer,

a synthesizer hooked up through the midi port on sound card,

or on a sound card's built in synthesizer.

If you can play midi files on your
computer (using, say, Windows' Media Player), you should be OK.

Where It's Going

EarTestonline is basically finished now. I may do some tweaking to get it
to work more smoothly with more platforms and browsers.

Using the techniques I have developed here, other ear training exercises can
easily be developed--say, practicing intervals, discriminating between different
chords, even practicing short melodies or chord progressions. Look for more
ear training exercises to be added here in the coming months.

How You Can Get It For Yourself

You can now download a zipfile
containing all files need to run EarTestonline.
EarTest runs nicely from your local hard drive, or you can install it on a nearby
WWW server.